Strengthening Constitutional Self-Government

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Kesler on post-thumping conservatism

The Friar calls our attention to Charles Kesler’s ruminations on "Conservatism After the Thumping". Here’s a taste:

If conservatism means being decent and patriotic, then of course, nearly all Americans are fuzzily conservative. But that doesn’t tell you much about how they vote, which in recent years has been in roughly equal numbers for Democrats and Republicans. The notion that a steady conservative majority exists, waiting only to be activated by the right Republican appeal, thus makes for bad GOP strategy. It lures Republicans into thinking their job is easier than it is, by disguising the hard truth that victory still depends on persuading, not merely reminding, a crucial segment of the electorate to think conservative and vote Republican.

Read the whole thing, which, unless I miss my bet, is a harbinger of the imminent appearance of the eagerly awaited winter issue of the
CRB.

Discussions - 2 Comments

Thanks for this. A suggestive piece.

Perhaps ">">https://www.bepress.com/forum/vol4/iss3/art6/"> this complementary review essay by Dan DiSalvo will be of interest. Dan is interested in the current state of liberal intellectuals (sic). A student of Jim Ceaser and Sid Milkis at UVA, Dan has just completed a dissertaion on "Intra-Party Factions in American Political Development."

Dear Steve, thanks for the head’s up (and link) to Dan’s article; I’ll read it tonight at the bar. Dan’s an old friend from Fordham. Good guy.

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